Police launch probe after driver 'speeds towards pupils' near Jewish school

An investigation has been launched after a car "drove towards" three Jewish schoolboys in north-west London.

The vehicle was reported to have mounted the kerb where the 14-year-olds were standing, the Metropolitan Police said.

The children moved out of the way and no injuries were reported from the incident that took place at around 3.40pm in Holders Hill Road, Barnet, on April 20.

The father of one of the boys told the BBC that there were dozens of children in kippot (skullcaps) nearby and his son was left "shaken, but with it".

He said: "They were visibly Jewish kids. He was waiting at the lights and saw these kids and saw an opportunity."

The headteacher of Hasmonean High School for Boys sent a letter to parents on the police appeal for witnesses.

No arrests have been made.

Now, the Met Police has confirmed the incident is being investigated as a religiously aggravated assault.

A Met spokesperson said: "While inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances, this is currently being treated as a religiously aggravated assault.

"We remain in close contact with the nearby school."

On Wednesday, the force announced a community protection team of 100 extra officers to help safeguard the Jewish community.

It said in its initial phase, the new team will be "primarily focused on protecting the Jewish community, which faces some of the highest levels of hate crime alongside significant terrorist and hostile state threats".

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It added that it would bring together "neighbourhood policing, specialist protection and counter terrorism capabilities" to provide a "more visible, intelligence‑led and co-ordinated presence focused on protecting Jewish communities across London".

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley previously said 300 more officers were needed to tackle the rise in antisemitism across the capital.

Jewish charity the Community Security Trust (CST) said: "The incident was reported to CST and is being investigated by the police and we urge anyone who witnessed this to contact the police and CST."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting reference 2017/24APR.